The Problem

Climate change experts are predicting hotter summers and heavier rains in Washington, D.C. Back in 2016 the District
Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) drafted the
Climate Ready D.C. Plan.
The goal of that plan was to identify strategies to protect communities from the effects of climate
change. During the public engagement period Casey Trees staff and volunteers worked with the city to identify
how trees could be incorporated into the plan as a management tool.

The Solution

Research shows that trees increase climate change resilience in cities. D.C.’s trees are an incredible tool for
dealing with the effects of climate change. They work really hard to absorb excess stormwater and to cool
surrounding air. Tree leaves catch rain at the canopy level too — that reduces the sheer volume of
stormwater that can overwhelm our sewer system during heavy storms.

During intense rainstorms — which are happening more and more often — water rushes over paved surfaces,
picking up
trash, oil, pesticides and other pollutants that flush into storm-drain systems. Each year,
3 billion gallons of polluted water flows into the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, eventually making
its way to the Chesapeake Bay.

Action

With input from our advocates, D.C. officials drafted a plan to establish climate adaptation strategies. The
Department of Energy and the Environment actively solicited feedback from individuals, businesses, and organizations
to make sure the plan reflected the needs and priorities of D.C.’s many stakeholders. We recommended everything
from planting trees in raingardens, to strategically planting trees near buildings to keep them cooler, and
planting trees near riverbanks to keep soil stable during floods. Ultimately all of these strategies were
incorporated into the final Climate Ready DC Plan.